BJP wins in Devsar, Qazigund, Magam MCs

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 28: Continuing its winning spree, BJP is all set to have its Chairpersons in Municipal Committees of Qazigund in Anantnag district and Devsar in Kulgam district of South Kashmir as the party has swept the local body elections in both these Committees with its all candidates emerging victorious unopposed.
Meanwhile, nine candidates of Municipal Committees were declared winners unopposed from three districts of Jammu region, including Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch on last date of withdrawal of nomination papers for first phase of polling today.
BJP won all of eight seats in Devsar Municipal Committee unopposed as the two major main stream political parties of Valley National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have given a poll boycott call while the Congress and other smaller parties did not field their candidates for Devsar Municipal Committee making ground clear for BJP candidates to sweep the elections from the twin Municipal Committees of South Kashmir.
Returning Officer, 42 Devsar has also declared these candidates elected unopposed to the Municipal Committee and issued certificates in their favour.
In Qazigund Municipal Committee which has seven seats, the BJP won four seats unopposed today and the party is all set to have its chairman in this Committee also for the first time.
In Budgam district the withdrawal of papers for Municipal Committees of Khansahib, Chadura and Budgam took place today. Out of seven seats of Budgam for which party candidates have filled up their nomination papers, BJP has won four seats unopposed while papers of one candidate of the party were rejected and its one candidate withdrew his name despite being elected unopposed on threat perception.
The election for the remaining one seat will be held on October 8. The Budgam Municipal Committee has 13 total seats however the election to four seats will be held later on, said BJP district president, Ghulam Hassan Khan.
Sources said in Magam Municipal Committee out of total 13 seats, BJP has won one seat unopposed while 9 Independents supported by party have also won unopposed. The party is all set to control this Municipal Committee too and have its own Chairperson there, he added.
Sources said only one Independent candidate has filed his nomination papers for 13 seats of Beeru Municipal Committee in Budgam district while no candidate is contesting for rest 12 seats of the Committee.
Sources said BJP also did not field any candidate for the Municipal Committees of Khan Sahib, Chadura and Charar-e- Sharief in Budgam district. In Khan Sahib, Independent candidates have emerged victorious while Chadura and Charar –e-Sharief Municipal Committees have been dominated by Congress as its candidates also emerged victorious unopposed, he added.
However, when contacted Congress president, Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that it will be premature to make any announcement about the election results and position of his party till Election authorities will not make any formal announcement in this regard. He said it will be unethical on his part if he makes any statement on elections unless and until formal announcement is made by Election authorities.
BJP senior vice president and MLC, Sofi Yousf exuded confidence that BJP will emerge victorious in various other Municipal Committees and councils in the Valley and party will make a good beginning in the ULB elections in Kashmir.
Party incharge South Kashmir, Veer Saraf said that Returning Officer 42 , Devsar has issued certificates of victory in favour of BJP candidates and elections for both Devsar and Qazigund Municipal Committees are over.
He said three candidates including two Independents and one of BJP withdrew their forms giving a clean sweep to BJP in this Municipal Committee.
Four hundred and forty eight candidates are in fray in Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) after the withdrawal of papers by 27 candidates today, according to DC Jammu Ramesh Kumar.
He said for seven Municipal Committees of Jammu district, 296 candidates are in fray after withdrawal of names by 24 candidates today.
In Jammu district, BJP candidate Sonika Devi was elected unopposed from Ward No. 6 in Arnia Municipal Committee.
Meanwhile eight candidates including a female member from BJP were declared unopposed winners in the Municipal Committee elections in twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Today was the last date of withdrawal of nominations. 30 members in Rajouri and Poonch districts withdrew their nominations. Now, total 182 candidates are in fray in district Rajouri and 81 in Poonch.
From Ward No. 6 of Municipal Committee Nowshera, BJP candidate Anu Bhasin was declared winner (unopposed). From Surankote Municipal Committee, 7 members withdrew their nominations. Four Independent candidates were declared elected unopposed from there. They are Abdul Hamid Khan from Ward 2, Sunita Rani from Ward No. 4, Ch Anam from Ward 5 and Sanjeev Kumar from Ward 11. There are total 13 wards in Surankote MC.
From Thannamandi Municipal Committee, three independent candidates were declared unopposed winners today. They are Shabana Naz from Ward 8, Shokit Sannyal from Ward 3 and Iqbal Raina from Ward No. 2. Now, total 263 candidates are in fray from Rajouri- Poonch districts.